Ideas Lancashire

About Ideas Lancashire

IDEAS Lancashire stands for, Invisible Disabilities Education and Access Services, and TESC - Tuesday Evening Social Club. 

Both are founded by people who are on the autism spectrum or parents of autistic adults.

The aim of Ideas Lancashire is to:

• Raise awareness and knowledge about autism
• Set-up leisure, social and peer support groups for autistic adults
• Work with other groups and organisations to promote opportunities within the local community
• Provide training to professionals, volunteers and carers.

Activities for adults with Autism

There are regular leisure, social and peer support groups taking place in the Preston area for autistic adults, including:

• A Peer Support Group meets every Monday in central Preston
• A Social Group (TESC) meets alternate Tuesdays in Bamber Bridge
• An Art Group meets every Thursday afternoon at Plunginton Community Centre.

Tuesday Evening Social Club (TESC)

TESC (Tuesday Evening Social Club) provides a unique environment where adults on the autistic spectrum and their families and friends meet up and socialise.  

Pauline, Emma and Denise were among a group of autistic adults and parents of autistic adults who set up the club in 2004. 

It has now been running fortnightly for nearly two decades and has an ever-growing and active membership. 

TESC members frequently input in developing new activities for our Autism Awareness training sessions.

Ideas Lancashire are supporting people to set up their own clubs. If you would like to find out more about TESC or starting your own club, get in touch.

Autism Experience Training

Ideas Lancashire run an autism experience half-day training session that immerses participants in the day to day reality of life as an autistic person and suggests ways to help.

This is aimed at the wide range of professionals and volunteers who have contact with people who are on the autism spectrum, for example, those working in medical centres, leisure centres, local government, the police force, retail, charities, human resources, care services, schools and colleges.

The experiential learning methods introduce those with little experience to the world of autism, whilst gaining new insights.

All training is presented by people who are on the autistic spectrum or have family members who are.

At the end of the session, participants have practical ideas of ways to support people on the spectrum.

A second half-day session gives the opportunity to look in more detail at ways to offer support and to make the organisation more autism-friendly.

For more information on courses, please get in touch.